Facebook appears to be backing away from it’s earlier plans to sell ads on WhatsApp.
In 2018, the company confirmed that ads will appear in the Status feature. There were no revelations on when it would be rolled out but later last year, Facebook announced ads would arrive by 2020. But it looks like WhatsApp will now remain ad-free.
Last year. Facebook announced updates for it’s Whatsapp. WhatsApp for business to get richer messaging format options. Alongside, what WhatsApp would get product catalogue to be integrated with existing Facebook Business Manager.
A tweeter, Matt Navarra, a social media industry commentator also concluded that WhatsApp would have the above features.
According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, Facebook has halted its plans to introduce ads in WhatsApp’s Status feed. But those plans seem to be paused, for now at least.
WSJ cites “people familiar with the matter” reported that the team responsible for finding ways to integrate ads into the service has been shut down, and its work has been deleted from the app’s code.
WABetainfo also noted that WhatsApp will no longer put ads on the app. In a tweet, Further noted that WhatsApp will focus on helping businesses to connect with customers. putting aside the status ads feature (momentarily!). In fact, since the 2.19.356 Android beta, there is no code about status ads.
Facebook’s future plans on ads status
Facebook’s plans to bring ads to WhatsApp aren’t completely dead though, they’re just on pause. Instead, the focus will be on monetizing WhatsApp Business .
Read: WhatsApp’s new update brings group invite blocking, text reminders & dark theme
THE Sun UK, concludes that, the controversy surrounding this update is so widespread. This is because WhatsApp originally built its brand on providing users with an ad-free space.
“No ads. games or gimmicks,” declared an unofficial slogan for the company, which one early investor said was built on a “commitment to stay focused on building a pure messaging experience”.
There are definitely critics surrounds the introduction of the ads extension on WhatsApp. For instance, Rasmus Hoist, the chief revenue officer at rival messaging platform Wire noted that. “Allowing adverts to creep into users’ messages undermines the privacy of users and jeopardises their sensitive information and data.
This means that the application is not truly end-to-end encrypted.